Manhole construction



May 6, 1930. c. A. JAQUES 1,757,196

MANHOLE CONSTRUCTION Filed April 30, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet l May 6, 1930.

c. A. JAQUES 1,757,196

MANHOLE CONSTRUCTION Filed A ril 50, 1927 s Sheets-Sheet 2 \lllllllllllllll'llllll y 6, 1930- c. A. JAQUES- 1,757,196

MANHOLE CONSTRUCTION Filed April 50, 1927 s sheets-sheet s oco eo @9 'CDOC)- (DO (DOC) Ewen/30f 7f was: WCZJQQJQCZMS;

Patented May fi, 1930 ver 1 I- cLoYon A. means, or CHICAGQ'ILLINOES MANHOLE CONSTRUCTION Application filed April .30,

plane of the vertical wall of the manhole, the

conduit ends being surrounded by the 0011 cr-ete with no enlargement at theends. In other cases, a coupling or sleeve has been slipped over the end of each conduit before pouring the concrete around the same, to provide an opening of slightly larger diameter. Where a flaring opening or bell is provided in the vertical wall of the manhole for the end of each conduit or duct, this has been accomplished in certain instances by fitting the end of each conduit into a rectangular concrete block ha 'ing a flaring opening therethrough, the walls of the manhole being built of brick, except for one or more layers of these concrete blocks built into said brick wall at a convenient height and in such numbers as to'provide one concrete outlet for each conduit, of which there may be, two, three, four, six or some multiple of two or three.

My invention contemplates using a bell form at the end ofieach conduit together with a supporting structure or plate to which all of said bell forms are secured, and pouring cement mortar or concrete around the ends of all of said conduits and bell forms, thereby providing the necessary fireproof flaring outlets for all of said conduits at the same time, instead of casting individual concrete blocks at a distant plant, transporting them to the manhole and laying them in courses, in mortar, or using some of the other special appliances heretofore available, which either do not provide a flaring outlet or are not fireproof or have other disadvantages.

One object of my invention therefore is to reduce the labonexpenseand other disadvantages involved inthis prior practice, by casting a single outlet panel as a permanent 1927. Serial .14 0. 187,786.

part ofv the manholewall and having flaring open ngs connect ng with each conduit, regardless of the number thereof.

Different requirements. result in a- Wide variation in the number of conduits leading to a manhole. The minimum is usually two parallel conduits laid side by side in concrete and in the some horizontal plane. There are two, three or four conduits in the same horizontal plane, and there may be two,

three or four superimposed groups of said conduits, necessitating two, four, six, nine, twelve, or a larger number of hell outlets, usually a multiple oftvvo or three.

To avoid the manufacturing and handling of so large a number of supporting plates with bell forms secured thereto, as would be required for the number of outlets needed different manholes, it is another object of my invention to provide a unit constuucition of plate and bell forms detachably secured thereto, so constructed that two or more plates may be assembled side by side in the same plane with the necessary bell forms temporarily attached, in order tobuild up a form for any desired number of outlets.

A further object is to provide a structure of this character in the use of Which the bell forms may be readily Withdrawn from the concrete after the same has set.

Other objects and advantages relate to the facility with which the manhole itself may be constructed, the laying and spacingof the conduits in the region of the manholes, and other constructional details.

In the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated one embodiment of the invention,

"although it will be understood that other em bodiments are contemplated.

Figure 1 is a vertical section though a manhole showing parts of the adjacent conduits. Fig. '2 is a horizontal section, on an enlarged scale, through the ends of certain conduits.

Fig. 3 is'a plan view of the metal form used. Fig. 4 is a sectional view, similar to Fig. 2, but with the form in position, and concrete poured around the conduits, except at the ends.

Fig. 5 is a similar section, but with the form removed after the concrete or cement has been poured around the projecting ends of the conduits.

Fig. 6 is an elevation of a form built up of three sections or units.

Fig. 7 is a central section through one of the units, showing some of the bell forms decached.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of one of the unit supporting plates.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the other side thereof.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view or" a detached bell form.-

Figs. 1.1 to are diagrams showing the number of conduits which may be used per unit, and various combinations which may be built up of such units. V r

Fig. 16 is a section on line 1616, Fig. 1.

The manholes comprise side wa lls 10, usually built of brick, the horizontal crosssection beingvaried to meet the conditions imposed, an octagonal section being frequently used. through the usual manhole cover 11.. WVhere the manhole is octagonal, the conduits usual- 1y communicate with the interior of four of the eight side walls, as suggested in Figs 1 and 2.

In the present invention, a concrete or cement panel 12 is formed in a suitable opening left for that purpose as the brickwork is being carried up. The conduits 13, of which there may be a variable number as hereinafter described, are made of any suitable material, fiber conduits, having certain advantages whichrecommend them. These conduits are laid in concrete 14L. 7

The preferred method is to dig a trench in which a layer of concrete of suitable thickness is deposited, a series of two, three, or

more parallel conduits being laid on this concrete and maintained temporarily in suitable spaced relation by any suitable form of spacer 15, as shown in Figs. 1 and 16. The form of spacer shown herein is made up of a series of standard pipe Ts connected by short nipples arranged horizontally and other pipe nipples arranged vertically. After the conduits are covered with concrete, these spacers are withdrawn and used again with a second higher group of conduits, another layer of the concrete being poured over the second group of conduits after which a third group may be laid over the second, and so on. The concrete in which the conduits are embedded terminates short of the opening in the side wall of the manhole, leaving a suflicient length of each conduit to enable the same to be moved slightly for a purpose hereinafter described.

In order to provide a suitable flaring outlet for each conduit, I provide a form consisting preferably of a supporting plate 16 with a ccess to the manhole may be hadseries of circular ribs 17 thereon and a series of detachable bell forms 18 which fit over said ribs and are secured to the supporting plate by bolts 19 having nuts 20 on the outside of the supporting plate where they are readily accessible. These plates and bell forms may be of any suitable material, cast iron for example being suitable forthe purpose. If there are only three conduits terminating in the manhole opening, a single supporting plate and three attached bell forms, such as shown in Figs. 3 and 7, are inserted in the opening as the brickwork is being carried up, and are temporarily secured therein with. the end lengths of the conduits fitted into the bell forms. Since a slight relative movement of the ends is possible the forms make a snug lit with said ends. This compensates for slight variation in the diameter of the conduits as they may be slipped over the flaring ends of the bell forms until they engage the same snugly, after which the other ends are suitably coupled to the next section of conduit, and concrete [is poured around the conduits almost up to the manhole, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the remaining spaces being filled subsequently by pouring concrete, or preferably cement mortar, around the forms.

One of the important features of my invention consists in providing a unit construction ofa supporting plate, whereby any number of bell forms may be temporarily secured in proper relative position so that they may lit into a corresponding end of the conduit, regardless of the number thereof. Diagrams 11 to 15 illustrate some of the commercial combinations inuse. For example, there may be two conduits in a single horizontal group, as in Fig. 11; three conduits, as in Fig. 12; four conduits consisting of two superimposed groups of two conduits each as in Fig. 13; or six conduits as in Fig. 1 1; or nine conduits as in Fig. 15, the two latter being built up of units of three.

To illustrate the flexibility of the system, 7 i

I have shown a nine-conduit panel in the drawings. Fig. 6, for example, shows an ele- *ation of the form used 1n such case, which form comprises three supporting plates, each carrying three-bell forms,making a total of nine forms for the corresponding nine conduits. The plate 16 may be held in position temporarily by bricks 23 left projecting from the walls 10 as the latter is built, these bricks preferably overlapping the edgesof one or two supporting plates, as shown in Figs. 4 and 6. In order to position the forms accurately and in vertical alignment, suitable interlocking devices are provided, such for example as shown in Figs. 6 and 8, whereineach plate 16has a series of diagonally arranged lugs'21, near the top and bottom edges thereof. These lugs may be formed integrally by casting, ormay be detachable and secured in any convenient manner. These lugs, as

shown, are so positioned that after the lowermost plate is positioned horizontally, another plate may be placed over the same as the brick work progresses, a third plate placed over the second, and so on, the lugs in each case engaging each other and thus insuring vertical alinement of the bell forms. As shown in Fig. 8, these lugs preferably taper down to the outer surface of the supporting plate, although this is not essential, said plate also being provided with re-inforcing ribs 22, the ends of which may taper down to the surface of the plate.

After the concrete orcement has set, the supporting plate or plates 16 may be re moved by simply breaking off the projectin g bricks 23 and prying the form, as a. whole, away from the panel which has been formed. If the form, as a whole, cannot be withdrawn readily, the nuts may be removed, and the plate or plates 16 thereafter readily pried loose, after which the individual bells may be pulled from their recesses by using a suitable spider with which the ends of the bolts may be engaged. I

The concrete panel thus formed is a unitary structure fitting within the opening of the side wall of the manhole and having a flaring opening for each conduit terminating in said panel. After these panels have been formed the brickwork may be continued upwardly and the manhole completed.

It will be noted in Fig. 1, for example, that the inner vertical surface of the concrete panel 12 is set in considerably fro-1n the inner vertical surface of the brickwall 10, providing an increased effective width for the manhole between these panels ;-that is to say, the cables which are later drawn through the conduits require a gradual bend at the end rather than a very abrupt bend and therefore necessarily project into the manhole a considerable distance, thus decreasing the space therein. It will be noted in Fig. 5 that the opening in the wall itself flares into the wardly, somewhat manhole, thereby facilitating bending of the cables. By beginning these bends several inches back from the inner face of the brickwalls of the manhole the distance between the conduit openings is materially increased, i. e., the effect is the same as through the walls of the manhole were spaced about a foot farther apart, but without incurring the increased expense of constructing such larger manholes.

'As shown also in Fig. 1, the vertical spacing of the conduits is a required minimum throughout the greater length of the concrete bed in which they are laid, but in the vicinity of the manhole said conduits are gradually inclined away from each other so as to increase the vertical and horizontal spacing where they terminate in the manhole wall. The lower groups of conduits incline downas shown in the lefthand der construction, whereby the form may assembled for the particular work inprogress andthe parts thereafter transported to some "other manhole or returned to storage. This structure being ofunit design is very'flexibl'e.

that a minimum number of bell forms may be kept in stock and also a minimum number ofsupportin-g plates oif diflierent lengths Although the con-duits themselves are preferably embedc l-ed'in concrete, the plastic material used in forming the panels at the ends thereof is preferablyoement mortar. lWhere- "everthe o l-aims call for concrete, therefore,

it is to be understood that cement mortar or other suitable plastic material is contemplated.

I claim: i

l. A device of the class described comprisinga. plurality of similar plates,eaoh having a series of circular ribs on the same face t*liereof,-openings through said plates, each in the center of a circular rib, bell forms :fit-

ting eac h rib, a bolt pa'ssingthrougheach bell for-m andone of said openings to support said bell'formswholly fromsaid plate, and a series of lugs on opposite edges of each plate whereby two or more plates maybe arranged in juxtaposition, with said lugs in engagement to position said plates and thus to 111- sure a predetermined arrangement of said "bellform-s. V

2. .The combination with -a-- c ondui-t having an open end, of aplate adapted to be removably secured in spaced relation with respect to said end, and a tapering form secured at its large end to said plate and having its-opposite end disposed in the open-end of said conduit whereby when theend portion of the conduit and said form have been enclosed in hardened plastic material said form will define a flaring opening in said material, said opening terminating in the plane of the inner surface of the plate and having walls which merge into substantial registration with the inner surface of said conduit therebyprotecting the conductor coverings from injury by the ends of said conduit when drawn through the open end of the same.

3. Forms for molding recesses extending inwardly from the surface of a concrete body in a preletermined arrangement comprising l.

a series of metal plates having two, three or more holes therein in a row, a number of tapering forms, and means cooperating with said plates adjacent said holes for removably attaching as many forms thereto as there are holes in a given plate, each plate having means on opposite edges thereof positioned to engage corresponding means on an adjacent plate whereby two or more of said plates 5 equipped with said forms may be arranged in substantially the same plane to build up a form corresponding to the number of recesses desired and whereby said plates may be detached from said forms after the concrete hardensto permit removal of said plates first and said forms later.

4. Molding apparatus for enclosing the open end of'a conduit in hardenable plastic v material comprising a form adapted to be inserted in said conduit in sealing engagement therewith and extending forwardly from the end thereof, a plate against which said form V bears at its outer end whereby when the end of said conduit and said form have been enclosed in such material theform will define an opening the walls of which will in effect he an uninterrupted extension of the inner walls of said conduit and which will terminate in the plane of the inner surface of said plate.

5. Molding apparatus for enclosing a variable number of conduits ends in hardenable plastic material comprising forms adapted to be inserted one in each of said conduits, said forms being arranged to provide a sealing engagement with said conduits and to extend forwardly from the ends thereof, a plate comprising cooperating sections arranged in accordance with the dispositionrof the conduits to be enclosed in such material and means for securing said plate against the forward ends of said forms whereby when the latter have been enclosedin said material the inner sur- 'faceof said plate will define the forward 40 wall of said material and said forms will define openings extending from. said wall into substantial alignment with the inner surfaces of said conduits.

In testimony whereof, I have subscribed my name.

OLOYCE A. JAQUES. 

